Life belt



- ()ct. 13, 1931, s. D. WILLS LIFE BELT Filed July 28, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 13, 1931.

"5. D. WILLS LIFE BELT Filed July 28. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1931 umren STATES PATENT .orrics Sims 1).wILLs, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA" Application filed-Tilly 28,

air through the said pipes for inflating the bags, means for securelyfixing the lower ends of the bags to a belt that surrounds'the 1 waistof the wearer, togetherwith means for singly inflating any of the bagsto cause the air therefrom to be directed into the remaining bags, andstill further wherein the tubes may be disconnected to permit of theinflated 26 bags being arranged below the waistllne of the wearer. J Theinvention will befully'and comlprehensively understood from aconsideration'of the following detailed descriptionwhen read 535 inconnection with the accompanying drawings which form part of theapplication, with the understanding, however, that the improvement iscapable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing30 of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and,therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as donot affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of theimprovement.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the clamp for holding the bags on thebelt.

Figln'e 3 is a rear elevation thereof to illustrate the manner in whichthe bags are detachably connected with the clamp.

Figure 4 is an edge View of the clamp with one of the bags attachedthereto.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view to illustrate the connection between theneck of one of the bags and the air introducing tube.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bag BELT 1930. 'Serial No. 471,315.

" its ends closed but connected by coupling means 2. This tubular beltis designed to be arranged around the chest and back of the user and isprovided with a tube extension 3 of a length whereby the same may bereceived in the mouth of the user and air introduced thereby into thetube 1. I I

As disclosed by the drawings the tubular and water-proof belt 1 may beconstructed of sections or'slitted to 'receive therein the longitudinalbranches of tubular T-shaped members 4 whose central depending branchesare formed with angular heads on which are swiveled nuts 6. The nuts arescrewed upon the reduced ends 7 of nipples 8, and between the nipple andthe head 7 there is a compressible gasket 9.- The nipple has screwedtherein the enlarged outer end '10 of a pipe-memher 11, the saidpipe-member 11 being received in the neck 12 of a reinforced elastic andwaterproof bag 13. The nipple 8 has its bore, at its connection with thecoupling 10 c oncaved to provide a seat for a ball valve 14, the stem ofthe said ballvalve being received through the bore of the nipple. The

valve is normally held seated by a comparatively light' spring 16.Obviously the T- coupling 1 and the coupling 10 are firmly securedrespectively in the tubular belt 1 and in the neck 12 of the bag 13 andby reference to'the drawings it. will be noted that any desired numberof inflatable bags13 may be employed. a p

he bags 13, on one side adjacent to their. outeror lower endsarethickened and provided with'an open portion in which is seated a hollowmetal body that affords a valve cage 17 for. a ball valve 18. The outerend of the cage is flared for the reception of a ball valve 18, and theinner end thereof isclosed but is provided with a series of apertures19. A light spring 20 holds the valve seated.

' As disclosed by Figure 7 of the drawings the side walls of the bag 13may be thickened and the tubular coupling 10' may have its bore shapedto provide a seat for a valve 14: which is normally held 011 its saidseat by a spring 16.

On the lower or outer end of each of the bags 13 there is pivotally orotherwise fixed slotted plate 21. The slot of each of the plates isdesigned to receive therethrough a spring hook 22 engaged by a stop orkeeper member 23 for limiting the outward movement oi the said hook. Thehook and the stop element 23 are preferably integrally formed on theback of a substantially rectangular clamp 24L which has itsends roundedand its outer face slitted to provide the same with an inner arm 25 andan outer spring arm 26 designed to contact with the arm 25. The arm 26is slotted and centrally formed with a tongue 2? which is rounded andwhich is received in a notch 28 in the end of the arm or lower portion25 of the clamp. The clamps 24 are slidably arranged on a belt 29 whichis positioned around the waist of the user of the device, the said belt,of course, having its ends connected by suitable buckle or like couplingmeans 30.

it will be apparent that the device maybe easily and quickly positionedupon the person of the user. It will be further apparent that air forcedthrough the tube 5 will likewise be forced through the tubular belt 1 sothat all of the bags may be readily inflated. By compressing andpermitting the expansion of one or more bags, the valves 18 will beintermittently seated and unseate'd so that the said bags may be thusinflated and the air from these bags will unseat the valves 14permitting such air to flow through the tubular belt to inflate otherbags. In this instance only one or two of the bags is provided with theinwardly opening valve 18 and in this instance the inwardly openingvalve 14 is dispensed with, the same being required only when air isintroduced through the tube 3 and through the tubular belt 1.

'l-laving described the invention, I claim:

1. In a life saving device, a tubular belt, elastic air bags havingtheir neck portions coupled to the belt, spring influenced valvesbetween the air bags and the belt to permit of all the bags beinginflated when air is introduced through the belt, slotted plates on theouter ends of the bags, substantially rectangular clamps having springhooks to engage the slotted plates, stop elements on the spring hooksand said clamps designed to have passedtherethrough a waist belt.

2. In a life belt, a tubular water-proof belt iaving closed ends,coupling means for connecting the ends, a tubular member extending fromthe belt for introducing air into the belt, a plurality ofequi-distantly spaced-elastic air bags having neck portions, removablecoupling means between the neck portions of the bags and the belt, saidcoupling means being hollow and spring influenced valves for normallyclosing the passage therethrough, a slotted plate on the outer end ofeach of the bags, a spring bolt to be passed through the slotted plate,a keeper for the bolt, a substantially rectangular clamp on which thehook and keeper are formed, and said clamp having its ends rounded andits outer portion divided into two arms, one of such arms having aninwardly directed tongue, the end or" the second arm having a notch toreceive the tongue therein and said clamps designed to be slidablyarranged upon "a waist belt.

3, In a life belt, a tubular water-proof belt having closed ends,coupling means for connecting the ends, a tubular member extending fromthe belt for introducing air into the belt, a plurality of equidistantlyspaced elas' tic air bags having neck portions, removable coupling meansbetween the neck portions of the bags and the belt, said coupling meansbeing hollow'and spring influenced valves for normally closing thepassage therethrough, a slotted plate on the outer end of each of thebags, a spring bolt to be passed through the slotted plate, a keeper forthe bolt, a substantially rectangular clamp on which the hook and keeperare formed and said clamp having its ends rounded and its outer portiondivided into two arms, one of such arms having an inwardly directedtongue, the end of the second arm having a notch to receive the tonguetherein and said clamps designed to he slid ably arranged upon a waistbelt, and spring influenced valves for admitting air to the bagswhen-the said bags are compressed and released.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

SILAS D. VILLS.

